Programme description
Human rights defenders play a vital role in pushing for sustainable human rights improvements. A free and vibrant civil society is essential to assist States to respect, protect and fulfil all human rights for all and to hold them to account when they fail to do so.
ISHR conducts regular training courses on the use of the main human rights mechanisms, including the Human Rights Council, the special procedures, the UN treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The Human Rights Defenders Advocacy Program, Geneva, (HRDAP) equips human rights defenders with the knowledge and skills to integrate the system into their existing work at the national level in a strategic manner. The programme also provides an opportunity for participants to engage directly in lobbying and advocacy activities at the UN with the aim to effect change on the ground back home.
This programme consists of the following elements:
-
a) A compulsory online learning component, which takes place prior to face-to-face training sessions, and supports participants in consolidating existing knowledge and developing advocacy objectives;
-
b) Intensive training in Geneva, with the principal course hosted in June to coincide with the 35th session of the Human Rights Council and the expected dates of the 24th Annual Meeting of UN Special Procedures, focusing on ways to use international human rights mechanisms effectively and to influence outcomes;
-
c) Specific advocacy at Human Rights Council sessions and other relevant meetings, with regular feedback and peer education to learn from the experiences, including expert inputs from leading human rights advocates
This programme is directed at experienced human rights defenders in Non-Governmental Organisations or National Human Rights Institutions, who have existing advocacy experience at the national level and some prior knowledge of the international human rights system.
Key advocacy opportunities expected for the 35th session of the Human Rights Council (June 2017) include:
-
Report of the Working Group on business and human rights, whose mandate is also expected to be renewed – providing a key opportunity to engage with the members of the Working Group, as well as the report of the Forum on Business and Human Rights.
-
Reports by key special procedures mandates (UN experts) in the area of human rights defenders, including freedom of expression, summary executions and violence against women.
-
Discussion of human rights situations and reports by the Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, and experts on Eritrea, Cote d’Ivoire, and Belarus, as well as an expected renewal of several of these mandates.
-
Annual debate on women's rights, as well as resolutions in this area.
Objectives
The objectives of the course fall into the following three broad categories:
a) Supporting human rights defenders:
- Develop human rights defenders’ advocacy skills and expertise.
- Enhance the ability of human rights defenders to engage strategically with the Human Rights Council, as well as to develop diplomatic and civil society networks;
- Improve the quality of NGO participation in the Human Rights Council, with a view to
exert a greater influence on human rights foreign policy; - Share tools and knowledge, which human rights defenders can use to ensure their
voice is central in international human rights decision-making. - Develop advocacy strategies for specific issues, and to ensure follow-up and action on the Human Rights Council’s resolutions;
- Increase human rights defenders’ understanding of the short, mid and longer-term opportunities provided by human rights mechanisms in Geneva.
- Explore and compare the benefits of engagement with the Human Rights Council, the special procedures, the OHCHR, the UPR and the treaty bodies, and examine how advocates can use them to bolster their work at the national level.
- Develop strategies and lobbying techniques to increase the potential of human rights
defenders’ national and regional advocacy work.
b) Influencing the substantive outcomes of international human rights mechanisms in a positive manner, including Human Rights Council resolutions and the work of UN thematic and country specific human rights experts (the Special Procedures).
c) Creating a peer group of human rights defenders working on a diverse range of issues, identifying best practice in advocating for human rights change, and exchanging lessons and experiences in conducting international advocacy.
Participants profile
For the June 2017 training course, ISHR will consider applicants working on at least one of the focus topics of the 35th session of the Human Rights Council highlighted above and/or one of ISHR’s strategic priorities. Final decisions regarding participants will be based upon the following criteria:
- Match between applicants’ area of work/expertise and ISHR’s strategic priorities and/or the opportunities provided by the 35th Human Rights Council;
- Applicants’ knowledge of human rights and their experience and willingness to engage with the UN human rights system and integrate it effectively into domestic level advocacy;
- Applicants’ experience of carrying out advocacy at the national and/or regional level;
- Applicants’ advocacy responsibilities and role within their organisation;
- Applicants’ willingness to contribute to peer education in a diverse group of participants;
- Applicants’ demonstrated commitment to the principles of human rights, including the principles of universality and non-discrimination;
- Communication, language and organisational skills;
- The potential for a strategic partnership between ISHR and the applicants’ organisation;
- Whether applicants or their organisations have been recommended by a strategic partner.
The course will be carried out in English. ISHR cannot provide translation.
In identifying and selecting participants, ISHR will work closely with leading human rights organisations in each of the specific respective focus areas and across the world.
Course requirements
Prior to attending the training and advocacy programme in Geneva, participants are expected to
- Complete a short online learning component consisting of guided reading in preparation of the course and forum discussions;
- Develop and submit a set of personal advocacy objectives for the visit to Geneva.
- Prepare some advocacy tools/documents to support advocacy activities in Geneva.
Application process
By 4 January 2017, each applicant must submit:
- A recent CV/resume (max 2 pages);
- A completed application form
- 2 letters of recommendation, including one from their organisation (to be emailed according to information in the application form)
Cost
The tuition fee is 3000 Swiss Francs (CHF), and the average cost of travel, accommodation, meals, per- diem and programme logistics administration is approximately 4000 CHF for the two-week period.
We therefore encourage all participants to seek other sources of funding, as the ability of applicants to either fully or partially pay the aforementioned costs may be one of the determining factors in deciding on the number and composition of the group of participants.
Participants who are unable to meet those costs are invited to request a full or partial scholarship. Full scholarships cover the whole cost of 7000 CHF, whilst partial scholarships may cover either the 3000 CHF tuition fee or part of the participants’ accommodation, meals and per diem, or travel costs, or programme logistics and administration. Scholarships will be attributed at ISHR’s discretion.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis starting immediately. Participants will be advised by mid March on whether or not they have been selected, and the availability of full/partial scholarships.
Timeline
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis starting immediately and applications will close on 4 January 2017. Participants will be advised by early February on whether or not they have been selected, and the availability of full/partial scholarships.
Please direct any questions relating to the program or on the application process to hrdap2017@ishr.ch. Applications for HRDAP 2017 will be accepted until midnight Geneva time on Wednesday 4 January 2017.
ISHR relies on contributions from partner organisations and participants to be able to deliver HRDAP. While we may be able to offer a small number of scholarships to cover the full or partial costs of participation, and without prejudice to your eligibility for such a scholarship, we also consider whether and how much participants or their organisations are prepared to contribute to the programme in selecting participants and determining the number of programme places.
For more information click "Further official information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://www.ishr.ch/news/ishr-2017-training-human-rights-defenders-now-open-applicants